Shop All the Best-Fitting Bikini Bottoms For Summer 2022
8 Bikini-Bottom Styles to Choose From This Summer
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Finding the right swimsuit for your body type is typically a game of trial and error. Bikini bottoms can be notoriously difficult to shop for. Before you start your swimsuit search, you'll want to understand the different silhouettes available at most retailers. Whether you're looking to elongate your legs, accentuate your waist, or highlight your bum, there's a stylish, comfortable bikini bottom for you.
Best bikini bottoms from popular retailers
We've sourced data from popular labels such as:
- Jade Swim, a minimalist brand designed in New York City and made in Los Angeles
- Ookioh, which creates retro styles made from 100-percent regenerated materials
- Montce, a celebrity favorite out of Florida
- Same Swim, a handmade line from influencer Shea Marie
- Aerie, which is known for its diverse range of colorful, pattern-filled suits
- Frankies Bikinis, a recent collaborator of Gigi Hadid's
- La'Mariette, which boasts a collection with Selena Gomez
- La Mariposa, which is crafted for women who like contemporary and classic sets
How should bikini bottoms fit?
La Mariposa's Ashley Liddell tells POPSUGAR that her company's bottoms are sampled more than a dozen times before being released. "A great-fitting bottom should look great on all body types and accentuate a woman's body for the better," she says, touting the Toluca style, which is high cut with ruched sides, crafted to lift and sculpt natural curves. But there are plenty of swimsuit styles to try before your next pool day. Whether you're seeking more coverage or less, you'll find options after the jump — and you'll know exactly how to describe what you're searching for the next time you're shopping.
1 Types of Bikini Bottoms: Full Coverage
Look for high briefs, such as the Daze Dayz Primrose ($89). These offer complete coverage and sit high on the tummy with a sleek and snug fit.
2 Types of Bikini Bottoms: Thong
Thong bikini bottoms are sometimes confused with G-string bottoms, but the silhouettes are different — thongs are not made of string material. The cut provides minimal coverage, while the "T"-like strip of fabric at the back can help create the illusion of longer legs. Jade Swim reports a recent increase in sales in its expose bottom ($80), which comes in 12 different colorways.
High-Waisted Thong Bikini Bottoms
The Montce Uno bikini bottom ($78) has a ruched back to show off more of an hourglass figure. By pulling it up higher on the hips, you can achieve the look of even longer legs while still showing off your, um, assets.
3 Types of Bikini Bottoms: High Waisted
The high-waisted bikini bottom is ideal for when you want to cover the midsection a bit without wearing a full one-piece. Look for added elements that accentuate your shape. Details such as extra piping or a button at the center — see Same Swim's The Grace ($130) — bring focus to the waist area.
High-Waisted Black Bikini Bottoms
This black Aerie bikini bottom ($15, originally $30) features a crossover detail that comfortably accentuates the waist. Erin Collins Rittling, director of Aerie styling, tells POPSUGAR that this style is popular because it sits above the belly button. Instead of cutting your figure in half, these bottoms help to highlight curves from all angles.
High-Waisted Cheeky Bikini Bottoms
The Anne ($90) is Frankies Bikinis's newest high-waisted style, and the brand says it's a bestseller for sizes across the board. While you can shop the full-coverage version, this strawberry-cream iteration is a favorite for its playful print.
4 Types of Bikini Bottoms: Cheeky
Ashley Liddell, the founder and designer of La Mariposa, highlights a key benefit of opting for cheeky instead of full coverage: it lifts all the right areas and avoids that "pancake-y" look. "This fit [is] amazing on women with curves," Liddell says. "Add a high leg to this fit, and you have the perfect bottom for all body shapes." This Frankies Bikinis Dawson bottom ($85) is designed to be worn lower on the hips or hiked up a little — your choice.
5 Types of Bikini Bottoms: High Leg or High Cut
The high-leg bikini bottom can be worn above the hips to elongate your silhouette. The Enzo ($90) from Frankies Bikinis comes with a slight dip at the front and a cheeky back, offering moderate coverage (depending on how high you pull the sides).
High-Leg, High-Waist Bikini Bottoms
The high-leg, high-waist bikini bottom speaks to the '80s and '90s (à la "Baywatch"). It's ideal for someone with a longer torso, and the top band usually sits right at the belly button. With its crinkled hot-pink fabric, this Aerie style ($30) adds texture and dimension.
6 Types of Bikini Bottoms: Brazilian
If you're shy about wearing a G-string bottom, the Brazilian, which is low-rise and shaped like a "Y" at the back, is an alternative. Ookioh's Cayman ($50) provides a well-rounded shape to your bum. The brand suggest this style for shorter torsos and hourglass body types. You'll also find many Brazilian designs with ruching that allow you to adjust the width of the fabric across the back.
7 Types of Bikini Bottoms: Hipster
If you like your bikini bottoms to be super supportive, a hipster bottom like this Aerie style ($15, originally $30) is reliable style. This classic option is good for someone who's active on the beach and needs everything to stay in place. These generally have thickish bands that offer only slightly less than full coverage.
8 Types of Bikini Bottoms: Side Tie
Side-tie styles are great if you like a custom fit, because you can position the straps to your comfort level. Tie it higher above the hip for the appearance of longer legs. Cofounders Theresa Mingusz and Morgan Brutocao of La'Mariette report that this Zoe bottom ($38, originally $75) is a bestseller on the brand's site. Same Swim CEO Shea Marie recommends these bikini bottoms for those in between sizes, since they're so adjustable.
